With a heavy heart, as one of the 4 daughters of Jose Luis Gaeta, also known as Cookie, I have to inform you of the passing of my dad. He was a complex and stubborn man. He had a life full of happiness and hardships and obstacles to overcome just like anyone of us. As a kid we imagine our parents as our heroes or someone we knew we could depend on without a doubt but as we grow older we realize that they to are allowed to mess up. He sure messed up but he tried so hard to make amends with his faults. He struggled with a life of drug abuse to get away from his terrors of reality but through his love for his kids he found the strength to become sober after many attempts. Although I saw those attempts as failures in the beginning I now see them as his dedication to assure that we know just how much he loved us, not only his children but his entire family and friends who has shown him support thought out his life.

It's not always best to dwell in the past so I will tell you about the best qualities I had the privilege of seeing. He was the type to drop what he was doing for a neighbor or friend. He was a dad anyone would have wanted when it comes to ensuring our youngest sibling was very happy. He danced and sang to music from his past along with encouraging her to dance her heart out. He was a beautifully weird person who made you feel comfortable to be yourself. These are just glimpses of what life was like knowing him, although it was hard sometimes to deal with his stubbornness I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. He was my dad, although a little messy in the beginning, he became a genuine friend to me. Some of you may be wondering in what way you can help celebrate the life he has had. It can be by donating to help give him the memorial service he deserves. Our last chance to say goodbye to our dad. Thank you.



Con un corazón pesado, como una de las 4 hijas de José Luis Gaeta, tengo que informarles del fallecimiento de mi padre. Era un hombre complejo y testarudo. Tenía una vida llena de felicidad, dificultades y obstáculos que superar como cualquiera de nosotros. De niñas imaginamos a nuestros padres como nuestros héroes o a alguien de quien sabíamos que podíamos depender sin duda, pero a medida que envejecemos nos damos cuenta de que se les permite arruinar. Se equivocó, pero se esforzó tanto por hacer las paces con sus defectos. Luchó con una vida de abuso de drogas para alejarse de sus terrores de la realidad, pero a través de su amor por sus hijas encontró la fuerza para ser sobrio después de muchos intentos. Aunque vi esos intentos como fracasos al principio, ahora los veo como su dedicación para asegurar que sabemos cuánto nos amaba, no sólo a sus hijas, sino a toda su familia y amigos que le han mostrado apoyo en su vida.

No siempre es mejor morar en el pasado, así que les contaré sobre las mejores cualidades que tuve el privilegio de ver. Era del tipo que dejaba lo que hacía por un vecino o amigo. Era un padre que cualquiera hubiera querido cuando se trata de asegurar que nuestra hermana menor fuera muy feliz. Bailó y cantó música de su pasado junto con ella para animarla a bailar su corazón. Era una persona muy rara y extraña que te hacía sentir cómodo para ser tú mismo. Estos son sólo atisbos de cómo era la vida conocerlo, aunque a veces era difícil lidiar con su terquedad no lo hubiera querido de otra manera. Era mi padre, aunque un poco desordenado al principio, se convirtió en un amigo genuino para mí. Algunos de ustedes se preguntarán de qué manera pueden ayudar a celebrar la vida que ha tenido. Puede ser donando para ayudar a darle el servicio conmemorativo que se merece. Nuestra última oportunidad de despedirnos de nuestro padre. Gracias.